The vote hands the speaker yet another loss from his own ranks.
House Republicans came up short for the second time this week in their push to pass annual Pentagon spending legislation, handing Speaker Kevin McCarthy another embarrassing loss from his own ranks.
A procedural vote failed 212-216, again blocking the $826 billion defense appropriations bill from the floor. The loss comes after a similar vote failed on Tuesday.
Despite optimism that the fresh try would be different, Republicans gained no ground on their second attempt.
Six Republicans voted against the procedural motion, known as a rule. One of those votes was House Rules Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who did so to make a motion to reconsider the vote. The other five were: Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Eli Crane of Arizona, Marjorie Taylor Greene or Georgia and Matt Rosendale of Montana.
Five GOP holdouts helped tanked the bill two days earlier. Two of the defectors on Thursday, Crane and Greene, had previously supported leadership this week.
Even if Republicans succeeded on their second try, it would have meant only incremental progress on a bill that stands no chance in the Democratic Senate.
